Scientists from the Australian Marine and Antarctic Research Institute have discovered a new disease in seabirds called plastinosis. study published magazine Journal of Hazardous Substances.
The disease is caused by microplastics – when they enter the body, they lead to inflammation in the digestive tract. If the disease is not treated in a timely manner, constant inflammation leads to tissue deformation. This reduces survival among seabirds. At the same time, the animals look healthy from the outside.
So far, the disease has only been found in meat-footed birds living on Lord Howe Island, 600 kilometers off the Australian coast, scientists said. However, given the amount of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, it is reasonable to assume that other species also suffer from the disease.
Previously, scientists found that plastic nanoparticles in food and water that enter the body of pregnant mice violate fetal development.